Aaron Rodgers played without injured targets Randall Cobb, James Jones and Jermichael Finley and still put up a 130.6 passer rating Sunday night. The Packers are rolling, averaging 152 yards rushing in four straight wins (182 on Sunday) after a 1-2 start and look headed toward 14-2 (12-4 at the absolute worst).

Their last nine opponents are 27-40. Only Chicago (4-3) and Detroit (5-3) have winning records, and the Bears won’t have QB Jay Cutler or LB Lance Briggs for Monday’s showdown.

Minnesota mess

One of Green Bay’s TDs came when Minnesota had a linebacker cover Jordy Nelson, the Packers’ only healthy veteran receiver, on a 76-yard catch-and-run. Has any team been more poorly coached than the Vikings the last 20 years?

And this was a team that let defensive coordinators Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin go to coach other teams and wound up with the likes of Mike Tice, Brad Childress and Leslie Frazier.

WR controversies

To get an idea of how overblown the Brandon Marshall controversy was in Chicago when Alshon Jeffery became Jay Cutler’s top target for two games, look at how Dallas defends Dez Bryant, who had a hissy fit on the sideline in a 31-30 loss to Detroit.

Was Bryant mad about the loss, or because Calvin Johnson, a receiver he says he is as good as, had 329 yards to Bryant’s 72? Bryant said his passion is a positive and coach Jason Garrett backed him up.

“Everybody loves him,” Garrett said. “We love to coach him. We love what he’s all about. He wanted to contribute to the game. We understand that. We want guys who want the football, and Dez certainly wants it.”

Translation: No one cares if star receivers act like divas as long as they deliver like star receivers.

Jones steps up

Andy Dalton (19 of 30 for 325 yards and 5 TDs) helped the Bengals blow out the Jets, but I’m still not sold on the third-year QB. A.J. Green (115 yards on three catches) can make any QB look good.

If the Bengals win their first playoff game in 23 years, it will be because Dalton looks good throwing to other receiveers too. Marvin Jones, a fifth-round draft pick two years ago, had 122 yards and four TDs Sunday.